Hina, warrior dolls on display at Aomori Pref. Museum; The collection dates back to the Edo period

HIROSAKI, Aomori – About 300 hina dolls and Japanese warrior dolls are on display in a special exhibition at the Hirosaki City Museum in Aomori Prefecture. Traditionally, people display hina dolls for the Hina Matsuri festival in March and warrior dolls for Children’s Day in May.

The exhibition features a warrior doll of Emperor Jimmu; a doll of the god Shoki, who wards off diseases; and Kyoho-bina, hina dolls with stately sleeves and hakama pants and which were popular in the late Edo period (1603-1867).

Hina doll accessories featuring the Tsugaru family crest and armor of the Daidoji family, the main vassals of the Tsugaru family, are also on display.

“I hope visitors will enjoy comparing dolls of different types and from different periods, from the Edo period to the present,” said Ryoichi Mikuni, 53, curator of the museum.

The exhibition runs until May 6 and is open most days from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is ¥300 for adults, ¥150 for college and high school students, and ¥100 for elementary and high school students.